Flutterby™! : ViewPoint Gen3

My faith in small stores may be wavering even further. First I interview with Amazon, next I buy a lighting system from a chain bicycle shop. Specifically the Performance ViewPoint Gen3. I had an old huge lead-acid Nite-Hawk, but I couldn't get the charger and the battery to cooperate any more, I suspect the battery is bad, so I started to look around for other options. I like the idea of using white LEDs, but had heard bad things, so I was a little trepidatious when I looked at the box and saw "as bright as a 10 watt halogen". However, the form factor was perfect, it takes 4 AA cells, and the package I bought comes with NiMh cells and a charger, and we're using it for mostly suburban riding, so lighting up the trees isn't a factor.

It rocks. The light is bright, brighter than I remember the Nite-Hawk being. We were cruising reasonably, probably in the 15mph range, and I always felt confident that I could see potholes in time to miss 'em, even on the big heavy tandem. I never felt that confident on my single. The beam is a little narrow, but that's okay, we seemed to have enough peripheral light that I was never concerned.

It uses standard batteries, so we don't have to get rid of a huge lead acid thing when the batteries go. It uses AAs, so in a pinch we can buy some alkalines on the road, and it'll even run on 2 (it's a 3V system). It's small, you can clip it off the bike and toss it in a pocket when you park. Overall I'm damned impressed. Oh, and you can buy the light separately from the batteries and the charger, so you can get two if one isn't bright enough for you. Furthermore, the charger comes with a 12v car adapter.

Okay, one more bike thing and then I promise we'll get back to the usual perversions and technology (wait, are those distinct sets?): Barb and Randall Angell are currently pedaling from Alaska to Florida, with trip reports.